Game apparatus



A.' ASSORATI GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 28, 1927 INVENTOR /7/v TEA/0E 17$ 5052GT! WA 464% ATTORN EYS A. AssoRAn GAME APFARATUS Jan. 31, 1928.

Filed March 28. 1927 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOHNEKS ANTENQB ASSORATI,

rarestorrics.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed March 28,

This inventionrelates to'improvements in game apparatus and has for one of its objects to provide an improved apparatus of simple and practical construction in which skill is required of the players in propelling a projectile to certain points on the playing board.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which a plurality of flap members are arranged at spaced intervals in a runway along which a projectile is propelled to form in said runway a plurality of compartments into any one of which said projectile may come to rest.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detail description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings- F'gure 1 is a perspective view of one form of game apparatus constructed in accord ance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a topplan view thereof; Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken through the runway of the apparatus;

Figure 5 is a transverse section substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse section substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing a slightly different form of construction at the upper end of the playing board; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a form of construction showing an addi tional guard rail at the upper end of the playing board.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 6, the apparatus is shown as comprising a playing board or base 10 of elongated formation which is adapted to be supported in an inclined position. and at any desirable angle relative to the horizontal by means of the long and short legs 11 and 12, respectively, hinged to the bottom of the board 10 at 13 so as to befolded thereagainst,

are provided with latch arms llengageable 1927. Serial No. 178,843.

as indicated in dotted lines in Figure'3, when the board is not in use. To press. the legs in their operative positions the same 55 in eyelets 15 secured to the bottom of the board. The upper en d of the board is preferably rounded and the outer edge of the board "is surrounded by an outer guard rail 16 utilized to confine the projectile, such as a small ball 17, to the boardwhen the game is being played. As shown in Figure 8, the upper rounded end of the board may be provided with an additional guard rail-18 of U-shaped formation hinged to the rail 16 at 19 and frictionally held in an inclined position relative thereto by means of tongues 20 on opposite sides of the rail' 16, the rail 18 providing an additional means for prevent- 7!) ing the projectile 17 from leaving the board when said projectile is propelled along the same. g V

Centrally disposed of the board and extending from the lower end thereof to a point ad acent the upper end are apair of spaced parallel partitions 21 forming a runway 22 therebetween along which the proj'ectile 17 is propelled. The partitions 21 combine with the. longitudinal sides ofthe guard rail 16 to form compartments 23 on opposite sides of the runway into which the 7 ball 17 may roll in the event that the same leaves the runway 22. At the upper end of the board and centrally thereof there is provided a longitudinally extending tapered deflector 24 which, should the ball 17 comein contact therewith, will deflect said ball into either of the two compartments 23 and cause the same to roll down to the lower end thereof.

As a modified form of deflector there is shown in Figure 7 an arm 25 having one end bent and secured, in a slot 26 formed in the upper end of the guard rail 16. From as the free end of the arm there is suspended a ball 27 which, if contacted by the ball 17, will deflect the latter into one of the two compartn'ients 23.

rrdjacent the upper end of. the runway 22 the board 10 is provided therein with a se of openings 28 of any desired number 1 and in each of said openings 28 is a flap member 29 mounted for pivotal moven'ient by means of projecting pins 30 extending from opposite sides of the member intermediate its ends. The portion of the member .29 below its pivotal point is preferably weighted so that the member will be caused to normally assume a. substantially vertical position with the upper partthereof arranged in the path of movement of the projectile 17 when the latter is propelled along the runway. All of the members 29 with the exception of the uppermost member in the runway. which is of slightly different shapefrom the other members, may be numbered as indicated for the purpose of scoringpoints. The yariousspaced members 29 forn'i compartments therebetween into any one of which the ball 17 may be propelled, the compartment formed by the two uppermost members 29 being: slightly shorter than the other compartments so as to render it more diflicult to propel the ball into the uppermost con'ipartn'ient. Vrhen the ball 17 forced upwardly along the runway the same will come in contact with the lowermost l'lap member 29 and, striking: this member. will cause the same to swing about its pivot to a position substantially parallel with the plane oftheplaying board. the upper portionof said member swinging into a slight depression 3]. (Figure 4) in the playing board surface. After the ball has passed over the flap member the latter will. by reason ofits weighted lower end. swing back to its normal position. If the speed of the ball is insuflicient to carry it past the second flap n'iembcr said ball will then come to rest in the compartment formed by the two lowermost i'lap memhersfltl and will engage inthe depression 31 of said compartment so that the ball will be substantially centered in the runway for a purpose which will presently appear. In the same manner the ball may be propelled into the second and third comparti'nents of the runw y. it coming to restinthe third or uppermost compartment in the event that the speed of the ball is sutlicient to carry it: over the member markedd, but insufiicient to carry it.

past the uppermost flap member. Should theball pass the latter member it may. as previously described. contact the deflector at the upper end of the board and thereafter roll into one ofthe compartments 23.

Should the hall come to rest in one of the compartments within the runway. means are provided for ejecting the ball-from said compartment. This means compr1ses a ries of hell crank levers 32. one for each of the compartments and each comprisingtwo arms pivoted to the base 10 at 33 with one of the arms extending longitudinally beneath the playing board to the lower end thereof Where it may be given a downward pull to swing the bell cranks about their pivots so that the upper arm of each bell crank will be swung upwardly in its respective compartment and thus engage and eject the ball 17 therefrom. either fall into the runway or into one of the con'ipartments 2 and thus return to the lower end of the playin board. The ejeetors are restored to normal position by movement oi the rod ill in a reverse direc ,tion.

The propelling mechanism for the projectile 1T will-now be described. At the lower end of the base 10 the same is cut awayyfor a distance, in alignment with the runway to provide an elongated slot 3.? on opposite-sides of which are secured the channel shaped rails 36 forming a tracliway.

Iilounted for sliding movement; in the rails 36 is a propeller in the form of a slide 37 having an abutment 38 adjacent its forward r upper end against which the ball 17 rests. it its loweror rear end the slide 337 hasa handle it which is adapted to be grasped to pull the slide from its normal position at the upper end of the slot 35 down to the lower end thereof. This pull is against the tension of an elastic element 40. such as a rubber band or the like. one end of which is secured to the base 10 forming the lower end of the runway 92 while the other end o t' said clement is connected to a hoolt 11 formed at the-lower end of the slide 37. As the slide is pulled downwardly the element 40 is placed under tension and upon release of the handle 3?) said element will cause the slide to be. propelled forwardly and upwardly and thus forcibly propel the hall li' along, the runway. A rubber pad or abutment is secured to the base 10 at the upper end of the slot 35 so as to form a cushion agaiiut which the forward end of the lidc strikes when it is propelled forwardly by thc element 40.

Several players may participate in playing the game each taking one or more turns at propelling" the ball 17 from the slide in an attempt to cause the hall to enter one of the compartments at the upper end of the runway. The game may he scored by points. as for example. it the hall should enter the compartment between the flap members i! and '3 the player loses a point. it the ball should enter the higher con'ipzirtmcnt the player gains a point. and if the hall enters the highest compartment the player may he scored tire points. for ll'lsl'tllltjt. If the ballshould be propelled so forcibly aa to pass over the various lap men'ibers and enter the area outside. of the runway and thereafter roll into either one of the compartments 23, this would score a point against the player.

A rule may also be made whereby it is optional for the player to guess before The ball will then t ll he guesses correctly he will neither gain nor lose a point, but it his guess is incorrect he will lose two points. It will be understood, of course,that the foregoing rules of play-.

ing the game may be altered at will without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: i

1. In a game apparatus, a base having a runway, a plurality of pivoted flap members adjacent one end. of said runway forming compartments therebetween into which a projectile is capable of being propelled, means at the other end of said runway for propelling a projectile along said runway toward said compartments, and means for ejecting said projectile from either of said compartments.

2. In a game apparatus, a base having a runway, a plurality of flap members pivoted in said runway and forming compartments therebetween, said flap members having means to normally extend portions thereof upwardly into the path of a projectile proelled along said runway, said flap members eing movable about their pivots when struck by said projectile to permit passage thereof along the runway and being thereafter returned to normal position by said means, and means at one end of said runway for propelling the projectile along said runway toward said compartments.

3. In a game apparatus, a base having a runway, a plurality of flap members pivoted in said runway and forming compartments therebetween, said flap members having means to normally extend portions thereof upwardly into the path of a projectile propelled along said runway, said flap members being movable about their pivots when struck by said projectile to permit passage thereof along the runway and being there after returned to normal position by said means, means atone end of said runway for propelling the projectile along said runway toward said compartments, and means for ejecting said projectile from either of said compartments.

4. In a game apparatus, a base having a runway, a plurality of pivoted flap members adjacent one end of said runway forming compartments therebetween into which a projectile is capable of being propelled, means at the other end of said runway for propelling a projectile along said runway toward said compartments, an ejector in each of said compartments and including a bell crank lever one arm of which is movable to engage a projectile in its associated compartment and eject the same therefrom, and means for simultaneously operating said ejectors.

, 5. In a game apparatus, a base, a guard rail extending about the edgesthe'reof, par; titions on said base forming a runway therebetween and cooperating with said guard rail to, provide compartments on opposite sides of said runway, a plurality of pivoted flapmembers adjacentone end of said runway forming compartments therebetween into which a projectile is capable of being propelled, and means at'the other end of said runway .for propelling a projectile along said runway toward said compartmenta'said projectile being adapted to roll into either of the first mentioned compartments should it be propelled out of said runway.

6. In a game apparatus, a base, a guard rail extendingabout the edges thereof, partitions on said base forming a runway therebetween and cooperating with said guard rail to provide compartments on opposite sides of said runway, a plurality of pivoted flap members adjacent one end of said runway forming compartments therebetween into which aprojectile is capable of being propelled, means at the other end of said runway for propelling a projectile along said runway toward said compartments, said projectile being adapted to roll into either of the first mentioned compartments should it be propelled out of said flector at the end of said end of the runway having the compartments therein, said deflector being engagea-ble by said projectile to deflect the same into one of the first named compartments,

7. In a game apparatus, a base having a runway provided at intervals therein with openings, a plurality of elements pivotally. mounted in said openings forming compartments therebetween into which a projectile may be propelled. and means to normally retain said pivoted elements in substantially vertical position, said means permitting said elements to move toward a horizontal position when struck by the projectile and restoring the same to their normal position after the projectile has passedover' the elements. r

8. In a game apparatus, a runway, a plurality of elements pivoted in said runway and normally extending upwardly therefrom to form compartments therebetween, said elements each being movable about its pivot to a position substantially coextensive with the plane of said runway when the element is struck by a projectile moving along the runway to permit the projectile to pass over the element and into one of said compartments, and means to restore said elements to normal position after the passage of the projectile thereover.

9. In a game apparatus, a base, a guard rail extending around the edges thereof, partitions on said base forming a runway therebase adjacent the runway, and a debetween and cooperating with said guard elements, said projectile being movable into rail to provide compartments on opposite either one of the first named compartments sides of said runway, anda plurality ofeleshould it pass over all of said pivoted elel lnents pivoted in said runway and forming ments.

compartmentstherebetween into any one of In testimony whereof I have alfixed my which :1 projectile inay'be propelled from signature.

saidrunway by passing over certain ofsaid ANTENOR ASSORATI. 

